Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis

“I give up!” I’m embarrassed to admit that these words come out of my mouth far too frequently. Just ask my close family and friends. Give up on life? Absolutely not. Give up on God? No way!

So what could possibly evoke such hopelessness in my spirit, causing me to want to give up Ministry. There… I said it.

Are you shocked?

Ministry is hard. Managing a non-profit organization requires long hours steeped in spiritual opposition with little compensation or validation for the effort I put forth. Sometimes it feels like I’m wandering around in a thick fog, taking one precarious step after another with no clear vision of the other side. The enemy whispers his lies that I’m too much and not enough, all at the same time. I continue pushing through but grow tired and weary when I see seemingly small amounts of fruit coming forth. But then God reminds me of His truth and I muster up enough courage and strength to face a new day.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Oswald Chambers wrote: You can never measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ. Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it.  ~My Utmost for His Highest

We all struggle with feelings of uncertainty at times and wonder if our lives really matter. And yes, sometimes, we even feel like giving up.

What is it that causes you to stumble, to feel like throwing in the towel? Is it your job? Your marriage? Health? Finances? A relationship? Perhaps it’s the fact that you’re not seeing much progress concerning changes you’ve been trying to make to your behavior or lifestyle.

No matter what ‘it’ is, we can become vulnerable to feelings of hopelessness and despair when life gets hard. But we are not helpless victims. When we start falling prey to the enemy’s lies, we need to be intentional about rejecting lies and embracing truth. If I hadn’t taken time to intentionally invest in my relationship with Jesus, being refueled by His transforming truths, I would have quit a long time ago.

We cannot let the enemy win. We must resist the enemy’s tactics of deception when feelings of uncertainty creep into our cognitive thought patterns, and we must make a conscience effort to replace worldly lies with God’s truth.

Encouragement from others is a blessing and has its place. But when you and I grow especially weary and feel like giving up, only words from our Father in heaven have the power to transform our hearts and strengthen us to face another day.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Help spread the message and share this on: